Song Structures and Characteristics: Members of a Eucalypt Forest Bird Community Compared

Abstract

The major songs of 27 forest bird species belonging to 16 families are described and documented. About 70% are in the 1-5 kHz range, as in forest birds elsewhere (Morton 1975; Wiley & Richards 1982). Virtually all vocalisation is in terms of discrete songs, separated by gaps. Only 26% of the species have varied and diverse repertoires; the rest use songs that are simple, stereotyped and repetitive. Both features are typical of birds generally (Hartshorne 1956, 1992; Read & Weary 1992). Prominent in the Australian community were birds that incorporate loud explosive high-frequency segments in their songs (the most striking example is the Eastern Whipbird), and others that use prolonged and penetrating piping songs. Sound utterance rates when vocalising maximally are mostly in the 20-30 second per minute range, comparable to figures derived by Hartshorne (1956) for North American birds. Despite belonging to different groups, and having evolved in isolation in a unique environment, Australian bird songs are comparable in basic features and structure to those of birds elsewhere.